A story of growing up is told in the Fall/Winter 2023 Menswear Collection of Louis Vuitton
When the world of artists collide, we can only expect works that become a manifestation of diverse artistry, where sources of inspiration are rooted from different places, and interpretations are shared to create a concept that unifies a collective idea. Sometimes, the process of creating can be overwhelming, but it is the end product that truly makes all the difference.
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It’s refreshing and inspirational to see such unity in the world of fashion, especially when they come from different backgrounds. Ethnicity, values, and artistry—all of these were bare as a group of diverse people come together to create a collection that they all feel a personal connection to. It’s a passageway that we all went through, and we get to revisit that in Louis Vuitton’s Fall/Winter Menswear Collection.
American designer Colm Dillane, the person behind the ideas and concepts; French filmmakers Michel Gondry and Olivier Gondry, the duo who built the set design and the cinematic prelude; and Sierra Leonean stylist Ibrahim Kamara and Ukrainian Creative Director Lina Kutsovskaya, both are which longtime colleagues of the Maison—this is the team that aimed to display a collection that can connect and unite their audience with a story of growing up.
It’s a powerful concept to utilize, especially if one’s goal is to be understood, something that the collection was able to execute quite successfully. Their set was built to mimic the years of childhood, adolescence, until adulthood. Directly referencing their past, the Gondry brothers were able to bring forth rooms that showcased a boy’s first stages of life.
The collection began with a soft line of ensembles, mostly suit coordinates. These pieces were finished with the classic tailoring in hues of gray, while other coats were constructed uniquely through the paneling.
The line of gray pieces went on for a while, but as the show went on, some clothes had a soft edgier tone to it. Black and white ensembles like leather coats, muted plaid prints, and drop shoulder jackets were eventually shown to everyone. This was a transition so smooth that it reminded us of a character slowly forming, just like the child as they go on with their life.
Color was slowly incorporated into the collection as gray suits were decorated with fruits like orange, kiwi, and apple, while the white ensembles brought us to the line pastel purple pieces. These ensembles become experimental and playful with their tied up details, print on plaid combo, and the unforgettable top to bottom paper look.
However, the playful aesthetic comes to an abrupt end with the entrance of bulky outfits with a hard, edgy tone. Oversized trousers, biker jackets, distressed jeans, and a denim on denim look—this definitely took back to the rebel years of adolescence.
And just like most teenagers during puberty, we can say that it’s that time of exploring various styles, a sentiment we get to see as the collection moved on to grunge. Neon colors made their way through the designs, which were paired with darker tones, florals were added through appliques, while graphic prints were plastered all over the outfit. These odd combinations only reflect the unusual combos we also did in our teenage years.
You could feel the collection near the end because the clothes started to look clean and put together. Subtle monograms were engraved on suits, debonair coordinates were styled neatly, and streetwear pieces looked more appealing to the eyes. Seeing these looks bring a sense of acceptance and confidence in one’s style as an adult.
Louis Vuitton extended this sentiment as their guests embodied the meaning of being secured in their identity. Some grew up quite literally with the public watching them and most were able to witness their growth from their younger self to who they are now. Some guests in attendance were Jackson Wang, J-Hope from BTS, and Game of Thrones’ Kit Harrington.
Photos from LOUIS VUITTON
